Founding and managing partner Steve Hammond is a 40 year veteran of the real estate business. He has been co-owner and president of the largest real estate organization in Maine with over 50 offices. In his career, he helped a company grow over 350% in 20 months to be the largest office in its state. Steve is known for his calm, thoughtful approach to problem solving and business building and is sought out as a consultant, instructor and coach by companies and agents alike.

Founding partner Geoff MacLean brings 35 years of practical brokerage and company leadership experience to all of his teaching and consulting. He successfully mediates disputes for the REALTOR® organization, licensees and consumers. Geoff serves as a consultant for many real estate companies and is experienced as an expert witness in real estate brokerage matters. Geoff has been a chair of the Maine Association of REALTORS® Professional Standards Committee since 1996 and he was twice named REALTOR® of the Year for his local Board of REALTORS®. His continuing education and pre license courses receive rave reviews.

His knowledge, unique candor, and sense of humor make founding partner Ed Getty a well-respected and highly rated instructor and consultant. With 35 years experience in sales and management, Ed has achieved total sales production of over $100 million. He has served as president of his state’s REALTOR® organization and was twice named REALTOR® of the Year for his local Board of REALTORS®. Ed teaches the Maine Associate Broker prelicense course as well as a wide range of continuing education courses in the classroom as well as online via video.

Founding partner Jane Greer has over 20 years of experience designing and delivering both classroom and online training in the real estate, insurance and financial services industries. She holds a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on adult education and an undergraduate degree in engineering from Dartmouth College. Jane is adjunct faculty at St. Joseph's College in the MSEd program and has taught real estate at Husson University. Speak to any of her students and they will confirm that her classes are engaging, thought provoking and fun! Jane is an active member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and has presented at the Real Estate Educators Association national convention.

Christy Arnett is the Operations Manager for The Real Estate Learning Group.

Linda Gifford

Linda Gifford has been involved in the real estate industry for almost 35 years, having been a REALTOR® before going to law school and becoming a real estate attorney. Linda owns Linda Gifford Law Office and is legal counsel to the Maine Association of REALTORS®, handling teaching assignments for them as well as contract and form preparation, lobbying, and answering Hotline questions from members. Linda also owns Central Maine Title Company, a full service title company serving all of Maine.

Matthew Ferrara

For two decades, Matthew Ferrara has been a driving force for evolution in the real estate industry. His mission has been to revolutionize the business by empowering brokers to create consumer-centric companies that meet the needs of modern buyers and sellers. As a teacher, Matthew has delivered more than 2000 seminars internationally. He is author of syndicated columns, interviews and videos.

Walter Boomsma

Walter Boomsma teaches pre-license and continuing education classes for The Real Estate Learning Group. He owned a human resource consulting business and developed and delivered training programs and speeches for numerous companies, civic and educational groups. Walter serves as a substitute school teacher for Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, as Communications Director for the Maine State Grange, and is President of the Executive Committee of the UMaine Piscataquis County Extension. He is a volunteer “bookworm” with second and third graders and says he “learns a lot” from the stories they read to him and the conversations they have.

Julie Williams

Julie Dawson Williams, who was named 2017 REALTOR® of the Year by the Greater Bangor Association of REALTORS®, is the principal owner of the Bangor-based real estate firm ERA Dawson Bradford Co. Her experience includes listing and selling properties for her own clients, as well as recruiting and training new licensees. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Julie teaches pre-license courses for The Real Estate Learning Group.

Matthew McDonald

Matthew J. McDonald, Esq graduated from Maine Law and the University of Southern Maine. After a few years in private practice in many areas he settled into real estate law. He began working at Cumberland Title in 2004 and bought the company in 2008. Since then Cumberland Title has grown to 5 offices around the state of Maine. His courses are known for their entertaining stories and information that surprises even the most experienced brokers.

Terry Bragdon

Licensed in Maine since 2001, Terry Bragdon has been a multi-million dollar producer for many years working with first time home buyers, investors, new construction, condominiums, second homes and move up buyers. Terry started working in 2008 with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae listing and selling foreclosed properties. She added VA properties to her list of specialties in 2010. Terry works closely with licensees in her own agency and throughout the industry to guide them through the process of selling foreclosed properties.

Kim Fowler

Kim Fowler is a licensed agent/broker in Maine and has several years of experience in the customer service and banking industry having worked for both LL Bean and Casco Northern Bank, NA. Kim owned her own agency in the past and has worked as an Assistant Team Leader in the real estate industry. Kim is currently licensed as a Broker at her own company, North Star Realty, in Scarborough, Maine. She is an approved instructor for delivering education on short sales to Maine and New Hampshire real estate licensees. Kim holds a Certified Distressed Property Expert designation from the Distressed Property Institute and has closed over 200 short sales.

Eric Flynn

Eric Flynn is a Broker/Owner and founder of The Morgan Group and specializes in foreclosure properties and flips. Eric regularly consults to the top foreclosure industry publication REO Magazine. Eric has 15 years of experience teaching adults in areas including computer education in a local adult education program and real estate. As owner/broker of his own real estate companies, he develops and delivers training sessions and has acted as mentor to many licensees.

Bud Solari

Bud Solari, a Certified General Appraiser, has been in the banking and appraisal professions for over 40 years. He has completed literally thousands of appraisals for residential, investment and commercial property. What our students value most about Bud is his unique ability to tell colorful and crazy stories that lend insight into how he forms his opinions of value!

David Stearns

David Stearns brings the lessons and principles of Dale Carnegie Training® to the world of real estate through courses focused on communication skills. David is an internationally certified master trainer for Dale Carnegie. He has delivered training programs in Korea, Greece, the United Kingdom and through the United States. A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, David is associated with Dale Carnegie Training of Maine.

Jean-Marie Caterina

Jean-Marie Caterina specializes in coaching and consulting. She is a multi-million dollar producer in a large real estate franchise, earned an advanced degree in social work (MSW) and completed a certification program in coaching – all factors allowing her to bring advanced skills and techniques to her coaching practice. Jean-Marie teaches the Sales Agent Course to those studying real estate for the first time.

Gary Daigneault

Having personally completed over 4100 home inspections, Gary Daigneault is a fascinating instructor who shares a wealth of information with his students. For many years he has been a member of the team of instructors for prelicense and continuing education courses offered by The Real Estate Learning Group. Gary has over 10 years of experience as a home inspector. He is past president of the Maine Coalition of Home Inspection Professionals (MeCHIPs).

Jim Nadeau

Jim Nadeau, a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, lives in Portland with his wife and two sons. In 1993, he became a State of Maine Professional Land Surveyor and co-founded Nadeau & Lodge. Jim holds three National Flood Insurance Program designations: Certified Floodplain Manager, Certified Floodplain Surveyor, and Associate in National Flood Insurance, has been a Realtor since 2004, and is an active State of Maine Associate Broker with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group.

Robert Staab

Bob has been a mortgage lender for 36 years. During that time he has been an owner and Vice President of a large New England Mortgage Company and two large local banks. He has originated and closed over 9500 loans as a loan officer. He has also managed two different processing and underwriting centers.